“Tara had some concerns, I eased them for her. Told her the four of you would be staying with me from now on. Don’t got a house and even if I did, it ain’t safe right now, so for the time being we’ll be staying here. Things get better, we’ll figure it out.”

“Lost my husband, not my house, Mav. When this shit with the club dies, we’re going home.”

Not in the mood to argue with her, I tip my chin.

“Talk about it when the time comes,” I say, then I slap my hands to my thighs and draw out a sigh. “I sent the prospects out to pick up some shit. There’s a thermometer and Motrin in case Theo’s fever comes back. In that event, Leftie will take you back to the hospital.”

“Where are you going?”

“Got some unfinished business to take care of up north.”

After Ghost knocked King on his ass, he and Ink dragged his unconscious body back into the chapel and we got down to business. Shady filled in a lot of the gray areas for me, but something still wasn’t adding up.

Colt was not at that rest stop long, which means one of two things—either we weren’t the only ones tracking him or someone had been tipped off. If it turns out to be the latter, I got a fucking rat inside these walls.

That’s not something I’m prepared to deal with just yet.

That’s why I’m hitting the road.

Gonna pay Parrish a visit and see if the miracle man had eyes on my guy. It’s not a long shot. I mean, a deal of that magnitude requires a lot of trust and I can’t say that if the roles were reversed I wouldn’t take an insurance policy out on the club swearing to deliver my supply—especially knowing that club was willingly shitting on a deal they already had in place just to meet my demands.

If that’s the case, Parrish would’ve done his homework and ran a check on Colt. He would’ve known he was my ex-wife’s husband and I don’t think that man would’ve been quick to pull the trigger on my kids’ stepfather. He values family too much— holds it in the highest regard. But what do I know? It’s easy to misread a man, especially when he’s fucking deranged.

“How long will you be gone?” Holly asks, diverting my attention back to her.

“Not sure,” I answer honestly.

If I learn Parrish is responsible for Colt’s death, I’m going to do the cartel a favor and take him out myself and no miracle will save him from that fate. If his hands are clean, then I’ll reimburse him for the guns he didn’t receive and be on my way.

No harm, no foul.

Holly stares at me thoughtfully.

“What?”

“Don’t get yourself killed.”

I wink at her.

“I’ll try my best.” Then I cock my head to the side. I know what I’m about to ask her is insensitive as fuck, but I can’t help myself. Seeing her come apart for another man makes me wonder how she’d react if it were me lying in the morgue. “Would you miss me?”

My question is met with silence.

I guess all that time she spent thinking it’d be me did her good.

“Right, well, I’m gonna head out. I lost King last night, so I need Ghost with me, but I’m leaving Leftie, the prospects, and Hawk here with you guys.”

Her brows draw close.

“What do you mean you lost King last night?”

“Handed in his patch,” I reveal, leaving out the fact he’s currently handcuffed to a pipe in the garage—which is where he’s going to remain until I get back.

I got the Parrish thing figured out, but if that’s a bust and there’s a rat within the club—well, my money is on King.

So is Ghost’s.

I push off the bed and quickly shove my hands into my pockets because the urge to touch her is too great.